Analysis of the Effect of Injuries on Match Performance Variables in Professional Soccer Players: A Retrospective, Experimental Longitudinal Design

Sports Medicine - Open

Table 2 Differences in the minutes played during matches by injury severity

Injuries	Match typology					Pair comparisons (mean differences %; ES)
Injuries	Pre-injury (Mean ± SD)	+ 1 (Mean ± SD)	+ 2 (Mean ± SD)	+ 3 (Mean ± SD)	+ 4 (Mean ± SD)	Pre versus + 1	Pre versus + 2	Pre versus + 3	Pre versus + 4
Minor	78.00 ± 3.57	68.60 ± 5.45	84.10 ± 5.54	88.90 ± 5.54	83.30 ± 5.54	− 12.05; − 2.63	7.82; 1.71	13.97; 3.05	6.79; 1.48
Moderate	80.04 ± 1.70	64.40 ± 2.39	73.80 ± 2.39	75.90 ± 2.38^a	74.50 ± 2.39	− 19.54; − 9.20***	− 7.80; − 3.67**	− 5.17; − 2.44	− 6.92; − 3.26*
Major	82.50 ± 2.76	53.00 ± 4.00^ab	77.50 ± 4.04	74.30 ± 4.04^a	73.50 ± 4.04	− 35.76; − 10.69***	− 6.06; − 1.81	− 9.94; − 2.97	− 10.91; − 3.26*

ES effect size, SD standard deviation, pre mean of the last four matches before injury, + 1 first match after return to play, + 2 s match after return to play, + 3 third match after return to play, + 4 fourth match after return to play
*Significant level was set at p < 0.05; **Significant level was set at p < 0.01; ***Significant level was set at p < 0.001
^aSignificant greater effect compared to minor injuries, ^bSignificant greater effect compared to moderate injuries